[MotoGP] Honda HRC Castrol Appoints Motohiko Kawase as New Team Manager! Puig Moves to Advisor

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced that Mikihiko Kawase will take over as Team Manager of Honda's MotoGP factory team, "Honda HRC Castrol," starting from the 2027 season. The current Team Manager, Alberto Puig, will support the team as an advisor.

Mr. Kawase's Background and Enthusiasm for the New Structure

Mikihiko Kawase, who has served as MotoGP Technical Manager since 2024, has extensive experience in various roles within the racing world. He competed as a racer in Japan's lightweight class from the age of 18 to 27, funding his career through work at a parts manufacturer. After joining Honda in 2012, Mr. Kawase was involved in the Moto3 project and contributed to winning the lightweight class title in 2019 as the Large Project Leader for the NSF250RW.

He subsequently joined the MotoGP side of the project, dedicating himself to Honda's progress. Since 2024, he has been serving as MotoGP Technical Manager. From 2027, he will lead Honda's factory team, "Honda HRC Castrol," as Team Manager, with the support of Alberto Puig, who has many years of experience in the Grand Prix paddock.

Challenging a New Era and Mr. Puig's Role

Mikihiko Kawase commented, "I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead a team with such a brilliant history and achievements. I am grateful to Honda for this opportunity and to Alberto Puig, who has been a wonderful mentor and advisor for many years. The support of both will be extremely important for the team's future success."

He further stated, "2027 will be a landmark year for MotoGP™, with the biggest rule changes since the transition from two-stroke to four-stroke engines. Honda must continue to make every effort to make a strong start in this new era and rejoin the fight at the top."

Alberto Puig will play a crucial role in supporting the new Team Manager, Mr. Kawase, by leveraging his extensive experience.

Mikihiko Kawase